Universal joint



Dec. 21, 1937. F'PORSCHE 2,102,973

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed April 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fly. 6',

Dec. 21, 1937. PORSCHE 2,102,973

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed April 5,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 21,,.1931 I 2,102,973

UNITEDISTATES PATENT OFFICE mviilifim Ferdinand Porsche, Stuttgart,Germany Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,473 g In GermanyNovember 2, 1934 9 Claims. (01. 74-311) This invention relates toimprovements in unito Fig. 1, the flat on the shaft may appear as versaljoints and particularly to such joints esshown in the right ha portionof 3- T e pecially adapted for use in motor vehicles. ends of the bolt 4as well as the edges of the The present invention is in some respects anflat 3 are prefera ly generated sp r y about 5 improvement uponapplicants prior Patent No. the intersection of the axes A, B, and C.The 5 1,996,688, granted April 2, 1935, Wh r as th shaft extension 2 ispreferably also formed joint of said patent has numerous advantagesinspherieelly w h respect o t e d s R- The eluding great rigidity, themanufacture thereof bolt 4 is mounted in a transverse bore extendingpresents difliculties and is therefore rather exenerally through a p w rr n m n lo k pensive, such as 6 (Fig. 3) within which it is free to os-It is an object of the present invention to eillete h o h a ed a Iovercome the said difliculties and to provide an Upon the occurence ofangular deflection in the improved joint which can be accuratelymanuplane A, C, the bolt 4 together with the fiat 3 factured at a low cot. of the shaft are oscillated together within the n t t. is t provide ha j t in block 6. Upon angular deflection in the plane A, 0 which ashaftmember is formed with a flattened B, h t 3 is Shifted Within the boltthe end portion preferably having parallel faces bearing surfaces n thisCase being h planes E. adapted for rotatable sliding movement in a boltEL Since l r fle i ns may con f member which i itself mou t for t t inboth such movements, the deflection of the shaft a third member upon anaxis at right angles to I may always take P e about h intersection 0 theaxis of rotation of the shaft relative to the 0f the axes d bolt. Y InFig. 3, two of these simple joints are com- A further object is tharrangement of a p1u blned in a convenient manner in a diiferentialrality of such joints i v i t manner as mechanism suitable for thedifferential transparts of a differential mechanism. mission f p w r o pnd nt y p u p w r 25 The invention will be more clearly understood madWheels- In the joints there shown h o from the following descriptiontaken in connecinstead of being made as One Piece is divided tion withthe illustrative embodiment of the in- 8lid is Shown as made of tcylindlfleal vention shown in the attached drawings, wherements is d efl faces of whi a in: upon the flat 3 of the shaft I. The boltaxes B-30.

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the are e shown as arrangedpa t. It will be parts of such a, univ joint; noted that in order topermit'a certain angular Fig. 2 is the corresponding section taken alongdeflection the flat plate tisprovided with cylinthe line II-II f Fi 1;drical beveled portions 311 and 3b. The plate 3 31s a vertical sectionthrough a difi re is oscillatably mounted between the edges 4a. 35

tial mechanism for use with swingable half axles 4b, of the bolt 4which, in turn, is mounted in a (i. e. independently sprung power roadwheels) bore extending an the way through the D utilizing such universaljoints; I transmitting block 6, 6', which, in this case, is Fig. 4 i r ton t line v v of an integral part of the differential gear. The 40 Fig.3; and difierential gears 6, 6 are rotatably but not 40 Fig, 5 1crss-sect1on along the line v. v of shiftably arranged in thedifferential housing ll. Fi 3, The driving shafts l I are thus ioinedthrough Referring for t present to Figs 1 and 2 the said universaljoints with the diiferential gears numeral .l indicates a powertransmitting shaft 5, The differential s a s ar consta twhich is formedwith a; flattened parallel sided ly in mesh wlth two or more beveled pii s s. extension -3, the surfaces of which preferably lie ioul'naled119011 the bolt l3v rr ed y th within the parallel planes E and Elrespectively, d ff e t al housing which planes are parallel to the axisA of shaft .A sleeve It is shown as mounted upon the bolt 0 i and to theaxis 13 of bolt 4. Adjacent the orl2 a d serving to space the p ni ns 3.Is. This tlen 3 the shaft may preferably be formed with sleeve is shownas also serving as an abutment an enlarged section 2 for a purpose to bereferred for the differential gears 6, 6'. -Ihe differential to later.The bolt 4 of the radius r is shown as housing II is journaled rotatablyin the two part provided with a recess within which the flattened axlehousing l5, l5 by means of carrying flanges 5 portion In located. I!viewed at right angles 5, if and the ball bearings II, In. The differofthe axle tubes 22, 22' are mounted for angular movement between the axlehousing l5, l5 and the covers 20, 2| thereof, thus providing adirt-proof oil-tight joint which permits angular deflections of the axletubes.

" The forms of the invention shown and described above are, of course,to be taken merely as illustrative and not as limiting since variouschanges may be made without departing from the invention. For example,the flat extension 3 on the shaft I may be' wedge shaped if desired.Furthermore, instead of flat co-acting surfaces between the shaft andthe bolt, these may interengage as by tongue and groove arrangedconcentrically with the outer edge of the portion 3, in which event, theflanges 2 on the shafts may be omitted. Instead of the beveled surfaces3a, 3b, a spherical extension of the shaft plate 3 may be used. In thiscase, end thrust would be taken up by this extension in cooperation withthe flange 2.

The constructions described are advantageously used for connecting partswhich must sustain heavy loads but where the size must be kept as smallas possible as, for example, in driving elements in motor vehicles.

What is claimed is:

1. A universal joint comprising a rotatable member formed with anextension having flat parallel surfaces parallel to the axis of rotationof said member, a second member formed with flat parallel surfacesengaging the flat parallel surfaces of said first member and formed witha cylindrical surface the axis of which is parallel to said flatsurfaces, and a third member formed with a transverse bore for embracingthe cylindrical surface of said second member, and means on saidrotatable member including means cooperating with said third member forpreventing axial movement of said rotatable member.

'2. In a universal joint for differential mechanisms of motor vehicles,a rotatable axle shaft formed with an extension having flat parallelsurfaces parallel to the axis of said shaft, a sec ond member formedwith flat parallel surfaces engaging the flat parallel surfaces of saidfirst member and formed with a cylindrical exterior surface the axis ofwhich is parallel to said fiat surfaces, a differential housing, a ringgear mounted thereon, and bevel pinions carried for revolutiontherewith, and a bevel gear constantly in mesh with said pinions, saidbevel gear being formed with a transverse bore for embracing thecylindrical ,exterior surface of said second member, and having acylindrical portion journaled within an internal annular portion of saiddifferential housing, the ends of said second member being formedspherically so as to cooperate with said annular portion of saiddifierential housing.

3. A universal joint according to claim 2 I wherein the edges of theextension on the first ential housing and adapted to be drivenbysuitable driving means, a differential gear mechanism mounted forrelative rotation within said differential housing including a universaljoint comprising a rotatable member formed with an extension having flatparallel surfaces parallel to the axis of rotation of said member, asecond member formed with flat parallel faces engaging the flat parallelsurfaces of said first member and formed with a cylindrical surface theaxis of which is parallel to said flat surfaces, and a third memberformed with a transverse bore for embracing the cylindrical surface ofsaid second member, and means on said differential housing for insuringa proper supply of lubricant to said differential gear mechanism.

6. In a power transmitting device, in combination, an axle housingcapable of retaining oil, a differential housing rotatably mountedtherein, a ring gear mounted on said differential housing and adapted tobe driven by suitable driving means, a differential gear mechanismmounted for relative rotation within said differential housing includinga universal joint comprising a rotatable member formed with an extensionhaving fiat parallel surfaces parallel to the axis of rotation of saidmember, a second member formed with fiat parallel faces engaging theflat parallel surfaces of said first member and formed with acylindrical surface the axis of which is parallel to said flat surfaces,and a third member formed with a transverse bore for embracing thecylindrical surface of said second member, and means on said rotatablemember including means cooperating with said third memberfor preventingaxial movement of said rotatable member, and means on said diiferentialhousing for insuring a proper supply of lubricant to said differentialgear mechanism.

7. The combination according to claim 6 in which said last cooperatingmeans comprises a pair of surfaces inclined to one another andalternatively contacting said third member.

8. In a power transmitting device, in combination, an axle housing, adifferential housing rotatably mounted therein, a ring gear mounted onsaid diiferential housing and adapted to be driv- .en by suitabledriving means, a differential gear mechanism mounted for relativerotation within said diiferential housing including a rotatable shaftformed with an extension having flat parallel surfaces parallel to theaxis of said shaft, a second member formed with flat parallel surfacesengaging the flat parallel surfaces of said said differential housing,the ends of said second member are also formed sph l! about a 0 11-member being formed spherically so as to coopter common with the ends ofsaid second member. erate with the annular portion of saiddiflerenwhereby said edges cooperate with the annular tial housing.portion of said diflerential housing.

9. 'Ihe combination according to claim 8 wherein the edges of theextension on the first FERDINAND PORSCHE.

